Security clearances 101

There are 3 levels of security clearance.
Top Secret is the highest level and must be renewed/reinvestigated every five years. This info can cause “exceptionally grave damage” to the United States.
Examples: info to counterterrorism, national security, nuclear weapons and counterintelligence
This level often takes 6-18 months to investigate and includes interviews of your associates.

Secret clearance is the second highest and must be reinvestigated every 10 years. This information can cause “serious” damage to the United States. This level takes a few months to a year to fully investigate the applicant depending on the complexity of their background.
This is the level Jared Kushner was just downgraded to.

Confidential is the lowest level of clearance and requires only a few weeks to months of investigation to obtain. It looks 7 years into your past and is reinvestigated every 15 years. This info causes “damage” to the United States.

Common reasons for a security clearance denial include:
- bankruptcy/debt/unpaid bills (a poor financial history is the #1 disqualifier)
- having previously lied on an application
- criminal charges
- foreign influence: significant ties to people outside the US (ie: relatives or friends)
- alcohol consumption habits
- drug involvement
- emotional/behavioral issues
- misuse of technology systems
- sexual behavior (I *think* this one falls under the category of “things you could be blackmailed by in order to keep them hidden”)
The most important qualifications are:
- honesty
- candor
- thoroughness in completing the forms

Only US citizens can gain security clearances.
However, an exception is allowed in specific situations wherein there are compelling reasons for limited access to be granted to an immigrant alien or foreign national employee who possess a special expertise that is needed for specific programs, projects, contracts, licenses, certificates, or grants.